This is a slow weekend coming up due to the holiday, and of course the big Fourth of July celebration at the Hatch Shell, (now postponed to Saturday) so bear that in mind when heading to city clubs. This could be the week to check out Willie J. Laws and his weekly jam at The Next Page Cafe in Weymouth--Willie and his band have a fine new record out, and Saturday they headline Chan's in Woonsocket. SuperFly's funk workout at The Beachcomber in Quincy. Love that Scottish irony: the band known as A Sunny Day in Glasgow rocks at Great Scott in Allston. The American Symphony of Soul at the Middle East in Cambridge. Country crooner Ryan Brooks Kelly at Toby Keith's in Foxboro. Russ Costa's SongAsylum at Home Ice in Quincy. American Guitar Masters--Peter Jansen and Steve Davison, at Club Passim in Harvard Square. Orchestra Morphine with a Mark Sandman tribute at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. There's a CD release at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge, for Boston rockers Powerslut--that quartet fronted by Linnea Herzog has a funny, bawdy new tune where the singer claims "I put the T & A in MBTA." (Trust me, that's about the only line we'd ever be able to quote here.)

FRIDAY'S BEST

The C-Note in Hull welcomes the Doors Experience, a tribute to Jim Morrison and the boys. The stellar slide guitar of Charlie Keating and his band at The Next Page. Tim Gearan and his band at Atwood's tavern in Cambridge. Dietrich Strauss performs at Club Passim. Chronixx takes over the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. The Middle East Upstairs room features four different rock bands, including the Birds of Spray.

SATURDAY'S BEST

The South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset opens this weekend with a dynamite doublebill: witty rock songsmith John Hiatt and soulful bluesman Robert Cray, each performing full sets. Rhythm and blues legend Delbert McClinton has sold out his show at the Narrows Center in Fall River. Redline Roots take over Club Passim. Booty Vortex gets down at The C-Note. Au Revoir Simone at brighton Music Hall. The Stilts rock The Met Cafe in Pawtucket. Thirty-6 Red is not a play Tom Brady will be calling, but a country-rock outfit at Toby Keith's. There's an open blues jam at Johnny D's in Somerville. Western Education has a CD release at the Middle East. Fil Pacino & EBS (as in Emergency Broadcast System?) performs at Stadium in Quincy.

NEW BEDFORD FOLK FEST: Opening Saturday and continuing through Sunday, the 2014 New Bedford Folk Festival has a wealth of headliners playing on six different stages around the Whaling City's historic district. There's also something like 80 different arts and crafts and food vendors on hand, and a special courtyard to meet the performers. Headliners include folk stars like Cliff Eberhardt, Vance Gilbert, Chris Smither, Craig Bickhardt, The Kennedys, Jonathan Edwards, Kate Campbell, Ronny Cox, Christine Lavin & Don White, John Gorka, the wonderfully-named band Pumpkin Head Ted, and of course Quincy's own voice-from-heaven, Chris Pahud. Check www.newbedfordfolkfestival.com for more info. Tickets are $20 per day, or $25 for the weekend.

UPCOMING

Sunday the band known as Hundred Waters headlines The Sinclair in Cambridge. Monday night catch some Venezuelan jazz when the Luis D'Elia Ensemble plays at the RegattaBar's Courtyard (outdoor) music series in Cambridge. Tuesday night is packed: Neon Trees at the House of Blues in Boston; Yes at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion; The Kills rock The Paradise; and La Santa Cecilia at Brighton Music Hall. Wednesday the American Idol Live tour hits the BHB Pavilion; while Darien Dempsey sings at Brighton Music Hall. July 10 finds Buddy Guy, and New Bedford teenage guitar ace Quin Sullivan at The Music Circus; The Vans Warped Tour hits The Xfinity Center in Mansfield; and O.A.R. jams at The BHB Pavilion. July 11 is really packed with options: Jason Aldean at Xfinity Center; Shawn Colvin sings at The Narrows Center; Peter Frampton & the Doobie Brothers rock out at BHB Pavilion; saxman Paquito D'Rivera at The RegattaBar in Harvard Square; the rootsy Felice Brothers at The Sinclair; and rapper French Montana at Lupo's in Providence. Neat gig when Queens of the Stone Age thunder into the PPAC (Providence Performing Arts Center) on July 14. be still my heart, Sara Bareilles at BHB Pavilion on July 15. Aerosmith rocks the Xfinity Center on July 16, while John Fogerty takes over the BHB Pavilion that same night. Jonathan Edwards at The River Club in Scituate on July 18.

THURSDAY'S BEST
This is a slow weekend coming up due to the holiday, and of course the big Fourth of July celebration at the Hatch Shell, (now postponed to Saturday) so bear that in mind when heading to city clubs. This could be the week to check out Willie J. Laws and his weekly jam at The Next Page Cafe in Weymouth--Willie and his band have a fine new record out, and Saturday they headline Chan's in Woonsocket. SuperFly's funk workout at The Beachcomber in Quincy. Love that Scottish irony: the band known as A Sunny Day in Glasgow rocks at Great Scott in Allston. The American Symphony of Soul at the Middle East in Cambridge. Country crooner Ryan Brooks Kelly at Toby Keith's in Foxboro. Russ Costa's SongAsylum at Home Ice in Quincy. American Guitar Masters--Peter Jansen and Steve Davison, at Club Passim in Harvard Square. Orchestra Morphine with a Mark Sandman tribute at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. There's a CD release at T.T. the Bear's in Cambridge, for Boston rockers Powerslut--that quartet fronted by Linnea Herzog has a funny, bawdy new tune where the singer claims "I put the T & A in MBTA." (Trust me, that's about the only line we'd ever be able to quote here.)
FRIDAY'S BEST
The C-Note in Hull welcomes the Doors Experience, a tribute to Jim Morrison and the boys. The stellar slide guitar of Charlie Keating and his band at The Next Page. Tim Gearan and his band at Atwood's tavern in Cambridge. Dietrich Strauss performs at Club Passim. Chronixx takes over the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. The Middle East Upstairs room features four different rock bands, including the Birds of Spray.
SATURDAY'S BEST
The South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset opens this weekend with a dynamite doublebill: witty rock songsmith John Hiatt and soulful bluesman Robert Cray, each performing full sets. Rhythm and blues legend Delbert McClinton has sold out his show at the Narrows Center in Fall River. Redline Roots take over Club Passim. Booty Vortex gets down at The C-Note. Au Revoir Simone at brighton Music Hall. The Stilts rock The Met Cafe in Pawtucket. Thirty-6 Red is not a play Tom Brady will be calling, but a country-rock outfit at Toby Keith's. There's an open blues jam at Johnny D's in Somerville. Western Education has a CD release at the Middle East. Fil Pacino & EBS (as in Emergency Broadcast System?) performs at Stadium in Quincy.
NEW BEDFORD FOLK FEST: Opening Saturday and continuing through Sunday, the 2014 New Bedford Folk Festival has a wealth of headliners playing on six different stages around the Whaling City's historic district. There's also something like 80 different arts and crafts and food vendors on hand, and a special courtyard to meet the performers. Headliners include folk stars like Cliff Eberhardt, Vance Gilbert, Chris Smither, Craig Bickhardt, The Kennedys, Jonathan Edwards, Kate Campbell, Ronny Cox, Christine Lavin & Don White, John Gorka, the wonderfully-named band Pumpkin Head Ted, and of course Quincy's own voice-from-heaven, Chris Pahud. Check www.newbedfordfolkfestival.com for more info. Tickets are $20 per day, or $25 for the weekend.
UPCOMING
Sunday the band known as Hundred Waters headlines The Sinclair in Cambridge. Monday night catch some Venezuelan jazz when the Luis D'Elia Ensemble plays at the RegattaBar's Courtyard (outdoor) music series in Cambridge. Tuesday night is packed: Neon Trees at the House of Blues in Boston; Yes at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion; The Kills rock The Paradise; and La Santa Cecilia at Brighton Music Hall. Wednesday the American Idol Live tour hits the BHB Pavilion; while Darien Dempsey sings at Brighton Music Hall. July 10 finds Buddy Guy, and New Bedford teenage guitar ace Quin Sullivan at The Music Circus; The Vans Warped Tour hits The Xfinity Center in Mansfield; and O.A.R. jams at The BHB Pavilion. July 11 is really packed with options: Jason Aldean at Xfinity Center; Shawn Colvin sings at The Narrows Center; Peter Frampton & the Doobie Brothers rock out at BHB Pavilion; saxman Paquito D'Rivera at The RegattaBar in Harvard Square; the rootsy Felice Brothers at The Sinclair; and rapper French Montana at Lupo's in Providence. Neat gig when Queens of the Stone Age thunder into the PPAC (Providence Performing Arts Center) on July 14. be still my heart, Sara Bareilles at BHB Pavilion on July 15. Aerosmith rocks the Xfinity Center on July 16, while John Fogerty takes over the BHB Pavilion that same night. Jonathan Edwards at The River Club in Scituate on July 18.